As temperatures drop, heaters clank on, and the wind whips up, the battle for healthy skin begins. Dry air takes away the thin layer of oil that traps moisture in the skin, flaring itchy and painful conditions such as eczema,psoriasis, and severe dry skin.

“If we stop producing moisture or if heating sucks it out of the skin, and it’s not being replaced, that will tend to cause little cracks that affect the barrier of the skin,” says Alan Menter, MD, chair of psoriasis research and the division of dermatology at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. Any trauma to the skin, such as cracking, causes an inflammatory response, which can make skin more susceptible to flare-ups of psoriasis and eczema.

But you can minimize the toll the next few months will take on your skin by preparing now. Here’s our action plan to keep you comfortable and flare-free.